Mikel Maria Delgado, PhD
@mikeldelgado.bsky.social
Cat behavior expert, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, author of Play With Your Cat! (2024, Tarcher Perigee). Vegetarian. Punk. Californian. She/her. Covid conscious.
I have to admit I'm much better about posting on Instagram... Gems like this
July 22, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I have to admit I'm much better about posting on Instagram... Gems like this
How science should NOT be done: testing the effects of CBD on cat fear...by scaring the cats so much they urinated...and no IACUC (institutional animal use committee) approval? Why? oh, because it's a predatory MDPI/Animals journal...calling @amcell.bsky.social
www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15...
www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15...
July 16, 2025 at 2:34 PM
How science should NOT be done: testing the effects of CBD on cat fear...by scaring the cats so much they urinated...and no IACUC (institutional animal use committee) approval? Why? oh, because it's a predatory MDPI/Animals journal...calling @amcell.bsky.social
www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15...
www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15...
This weekend was a great time to be in Sacramento. Yesterday was Sac Halloween featuring a day of bands acting as other bands (this year's theme was "body parts.") There were some amazing performances. Today Alison Bechdel gave a talk with free copies of her new book at the Sacramento Library!
May 26, 2025 at 1:04 AM
This weekend was a great time to be in Sacramento. Yesterday was Sac Halloween featuring a day of bands acting as other bands (this year's theme was "body parts.") There were some amazing performances. Today Alison Bechdel gave a talk with free copies of her new book at the Sacramento Library!
Always get excited when I see a color morph squirrel!!! I'm Colorado Springs
May 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Always get excited when I see a color morph squirrel!!! I'm Colorado Springs
I'm at a conference... And not feeling great about the electricity in my hotel room
May 9, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I'm at a conference... And not feeling great about the electricity in my hotel room
That's right, I said it. It's not necessary "stink face!!!"
I'm interviewed in an article about the flehmen response over at Kinship Pets
www.kinship.com/cat-behavior...
I'm interviewed in an article about the flehmen response over at Kinship Pets
www.kinship.com/cat-behavior...
![Maybe we should find a new name for stink face.
While science has been able to nail down some information around cats’ pheromone signaling behaviors and the capabilities of the vomeronasal organ, much of it still remains unknown, and humans can merely make an educated guess. For example, we don’t yet know if the vomeronasal organ is also capable of detecting regular, non-pheromonal scents. “We know [the vomeronasal organ] is specialized for pheromone detection,” says Delgado, but “it’s an open debate as to whether or not they can actually detect other scents with this organ.”
She also points out that referring to the flehmen response as stink face is kind of a misnomer. “I think stink face is maybe not the best word to describe it,” she says. “We’re interpreting their facial expression as unpleasant, but there’s no real reason to think that what they're encountering is unpleasant to them … I think we just make a lot of assumptions that they’re experiencing the world pretty similarly to us — which is a flawed assumption.”
While this is certainly true, it’s still only natural for us to instinctively anthropomorphize our pets. Faced with large gaps of knowledge about how our companions experience and process the world, we’re forced to fill in the blanks with our own human experiences. But the next time you see your cat making “stink face” at something, you’ll know a little bit more about what’s really going on — and perhaps have a new sense of appreciation for your kitty and their fascinating physiology.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hzy6huvsy5wzx5zpmaez33yo/bafkreiecerofndvhe5k6tlqm5nzoipfyhwtwuqnqakonifsodp3nrvyd2e@jpeg)
May 2, 2025 at 11:08 PM
That's right, I said it. It's not necessary "stink face!!!"
I'm interviewed in an article about the flehmen response over at Kinship Pets
www.kinship.com/cat-behavior...
I'm interviewed in an article about the flehmen response over at Kinship Pets
www.kinship.com/cat-behavior...
You are invited to participate in a study about people and their behaviors and feelings toward their cats. In order to participate, you must currently have a cat.
Participation in this research entails taking a survey answering questions about yourself and one of your pet cats.
Participation in this research entails taking a survey answering questions about yourself and one of your pet cats.
May 1, 2025 at 10:18 PM
You are invited to participate in a study about people and their behaviors and feelings toward their cats. In order to participate, you must currently have a cat.
Participation in this research entails taking a survey answering questions about yourself and one of your pet cats.
Participation in this research entails taking a survey answering questions about yourself and one of your pet cats.
Two cats, four sessions, probably around 15 hours of tattooing by the fabulous Bretty Baumgart at Never Mortuary in Oakland!! Background to come.
#cattoo
#cattoo
April 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Two cats, four sessions, probably around 15 hours of tattooing by the fabulous Bretty Baumgart at Never Mortuary in Oakland!! Background to come.
#cattoo
#cattoo
In California! Bill to ban cat declawing STATEWIDE passes first hurdle
a24.asmdc.org/press-releas....
a24.asmdc.org/press-releas....
April 3, 2025 at 2:47 AM
In California! Bill to ban cat declawing STATEWIDE passes first hurdle
a24.asmdc.org/press-releas....
a24.asmdc.org/press-releas....
Pretty stoked to win an award from a DOG organization for my CAT webinar about my book "Play With Your Cat!"
You can watch the webinar here: youtu.be/udsbNM_2ItA
You can watch the webinar here: youtu.be/udsbNM_2ItA
April 3, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Pretty stoked to win an award from a DOG organization for my CAT webinar about my book "Play With Your Cat!"
You can watch the webinar here: youtu.be/udsbNM_2ItA
You can watch the webinar here: youtu.be/udsbNM_2ItA
"In dogs/cats, there is limited evidence to support using gabapentin to reduce behavioral signs of stress...it isn’t entirely clear if it reduces anxiety or is primarily a sedative...there is little reason to expect it to be of great benefit for acute or chronic pain" skeptvet.com/2025/03/choo...
March 31, 2025 at 5:53 PM
"In dogs/cats, there is limited evidence to support using gabapentin to reduce behavioral signs of stress...it isn’t entirely clear if it reduces anxiety or is primarily a sedative...there is little reason to expect it to be of great benefit for acute or chronic pain" skeptvet.com/2025/03/choo...
Really enjoyed Mickey 17!!!!
March 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Really enjoyed Mickey 17!!!!
The cat play handout I did with @lilichin.bsky.social is available in yet a 16th language - FINNISH!! Many thanks to Meeri Järvinen for translating this handout so it can reach more cat lovers!!
Freely available on my website/blog at: whatyourcatwants.com/cat-play-han...
Freely available on my website/blog at: whatyourcatwants.com/cat-play-han...
February 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The cat play handout I did with @lilichin.bsky.social is available in yet a 16th language - FINNISH!! Many thanks to Meeri Järvinen for translating this handout so it can reach more cat lovers!!
Freely available on my website/blog at: whatyourcatwants.com/cat-play-han...
Freely available on my website/blog at: whatyourcatwants.com/cat-play-han...
If this valentine makes you laugh you may enjoy www.instagram.com/squirrelwatc...
February 14, 2025 at 3:47 AM
If this valentine makes you laugh you may enjoy www.instagram.com/squirrelwatc...
Proud to be part of the fabulous team that put this important doc about lower urinary tract diseases in cats together
"2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract diseases in cats"
Free to access at: journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
"2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract diseases in cats"
Free to access at: journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
February 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Proud to be part of the fabulous team that put this important doc about lower urinary tract diseases in cats together
"2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract diseases in cats"
Free to access at: journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
"2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract diseases in cats"
Free to access at: journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
I'm excited to be a part of this year's World Feline Congress 2025! 😻 I Expert-led, feline-focused learning over three days, alongside the latest in scientific research, plus social events and networking opportunities. View the full programme and find out more 👉 icatcare.org/events/world...
January 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I'm excited to be a part of this year's World Feline Congress 2025! 😻 I Expert-led, feline-focused learning over three days, alongside the latest in scientific research, plus social events and networking opportunities. View the full programme and find out more 👉 icatcare.org/events/world...
Have you seen the movie Flow yet? I watched it last night and felt all the feels!! The animals are all so endearing, I smiled, I cried, just loved this movie so much.
January 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Have you seen the movie Flow yet? I watched it last night and felt all the feels!! The animals are all so endearing, I smiled, I cried, just loved this movie so much.
My book Play With Your Cat made Catit's Top ten cat books of 2024 list!!
www.catit.com/spotlight/ca...
www.catit.com/spotlight/ca...
January 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
My book Play With Your Cat made Catit's Top ten cat books of 2024 list!!
www.catit.com/spotlight/ca...
www.catit.com/spotlight/ca...
My friend sent me this photo of her cat yesterday because she thought it was neat/cute. I had to let her know that when cats have differently sized pupils, it can be serious - even a veterinary emergency.... This is a condition called anisocoria. Luckily her cat seems to be okay.
January 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM
My friend sent me this photo of her cat yesterday because she thought it was neat/cute. I had to let her know that when cats have differently sized pupils, it can be serious - even a veterinary emergency.... This is a condition called anisocoria. Luckily her cat seems to be okay.
Saw Ride for the first time last night and they did not disappoint!!!
December 21, 2024 at 6:48 PM
Saw Ride for the first time last night and they did not disappoint!!!
New paper is up!! Assessing the impact of a human behaviour change intervention to reduce owner-related barriers to interactive cat play
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 18, 2024 at 2:49 PM
New paper is up!! Assessing the impact of a human behaviour change intervention to reduce owner-related barriers to interactive cat play
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Advantage of no Internet at home... Working at a friend's house, with her cat Vincent
December 5, 2024 at 1:07 AM
Advantage of no Internet at home... Working at a friend's house, with her cat Vincent
She is naughty but I love her
December 1, 2024 at 8:30 PM
She is naughty but I love her